FLL - Nature's Fury: kits...Update

FIRST LEGO League coaches, 
                       if you haven't checked your team email...

The "Nature's Fury" Field Setup Kit will start being shipped on August 1, 2013; and the Mission Model Build Instructions will also be available on August 1, 2013  9am online @ firstlegoleague.org .

Those who pre-ordered the new Mindstorms EV3; it is planned to be shipped starting August 1. 2013. The new kit may be used this year in the FLL competition - more to come about any restrictions in using it; and yes, the NXT (and RCX if any one has one) may still be used.

And don't forget, August  27, 2013, "Nature's Fury" challenge will be released.

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Summer BotCamp @ NYU-Polytechnic...

Through NYU-Poly's Center for K12 STEM Education and in partnership with MakerBot, there will be a series of highly affordable workshops for middle and high school students on 3D printing, physical computing, and introductory engineering. 

Registration form: https://www.poly.edu/registration/botcamp

Event page: http://www.poly.edu/events/2013/07/08/summer-botcamp-nyu-poly

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LEGO Store: Palisades Center Mall...

Hey, LEGO Fans (young & old)!

This is Reee-Bot, the Roving Robot Reporter. 

If you happen to be in the area of the Palisades Mall in West Nyack (which happens to be an awesome mall) be sure to visit the LEGO store on the 3rd level.

I was there recently; and having arrived early I waited with other LEGO fans for the store to open. We could see well stocked shelves of all the latest LEGO kits available and cubbies full of LEGO elements for Pick a Brick. When the doors opened promptly on time, we rushed in to be greeted by friendly staff, who were eager, but patient in helping us make that important selection. 

There were interesting models (a source of inspiration), and bits of LEGO history on display. While you are trying to decide on what kits to buy you can tinker with the LEGO elements available in a large table bin. I could have spent hours in here, but my human companion, The L3GO-Bots Lady, said we really couldn’t stay “that long.”  However, we will be coming back when the new EV3 comes in.

The LEGO Store

Palisades Center

3462 Palisades Center Drive

West Nyack, NY 10994

When you visit be sure to pick up the latest calendar of store events

and say “Hi” to Mr. Lopez, the Store Manager, he’s a great guy!

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Happy Mom's Day...

Have a Happy (LEGO) Mother's Day!

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FLL - Nature's Fury: Registration...

FIRST LEGO League

is

now

Open

Register @

https://gofll.usfirst.org/

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LEGO Family Fun Day @ Lyndhurst Mansion...

Come to Lyndhurst Mansion… Why??? It's Family Fun Day and it's also where the LEGOs are!!! Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th 2013 from 10am-4pm at the beautiful Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, New York (635 South Broadway -Route 9).

The two fun filled days will include, demonstrations/activities by FIRST LEGO League teams with motorized LEGO devices and LEGO® Mindstorms® Robotics, a LEGO trainscape by I LUG NY, wacky cars from Brick Kids, and of course lots and lots of LEGOs for building activities with LEGOLAND® Discovery Center's Master Builder Mike T., There will also be LEGO vendors, raffles and prizes. Tour the Mansion to find many LEGO® models by LEGO fans on display.

You can also bringing a small bag of LEGO® elements to donate to the festivities; it will be appreciated!

Admission: $9 for adults, $7 for children 4-11, and under 3 are free

For information:  http://lyndhurst.org/upcoming-events/ 

Directions:http://www.lyndhurst.org/visit.html#Directions

LEGO Adventure Book...

Here’s a nice book for young (and not so young AFOLs like myself) LEGO builders. The LEGO® Adventure Book: Cars, Castles, Dinosaurs, and More! (Vol. 1) by Megan Rothrock, No Starch Press is a rather unique building instructions book, because it is written in a story/comic book style with color photos of LEGO scenes, models, and step-by-step building instructions. There are almost 200 models (25 have building instructions) that span themes of time, places, and styles with short building tips and journal notes; and I love the little speech bubbles of comments. The models and their building instructions are not just the author’s, but also 13 of the best LEGO builders around. With each builder’s name and website to see more of their creations.

The cool models and building techniques are a source of inspiration for LEGO builders/fans of all abilities. The author states on the title page, “For years, I’ve wanted to learn to be a better builder, to do more with the LEGO bricks I have been creating with my entire life. So today, I decided to do it. I packed up my stuff and headed into the unknown. What will I build? What other LEGO builds might I encounter? It’s going to be fun finding out!” I think this statement echoes the desires of most LEGO builders – to be better builders and to see what their creativeness will discover and create.

This is the type of book that you prop up with your LEGO elements spread around you; to read and build at the same time. Buy hardcover book from No Starch Press and receive the free eBook – perfect for your tablet device, which is definitely the way to read and build at the same time.

The LEGO® Adventure Book: Cars, Castles, Dinosaurs, and More! is Volume 1 in what is to be a series and I am looking forward to enjoying the future volumes as well. 

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FLL - Senior Solutions: NYC FLL Finals...

NYC FIRST LEGO League Finals 

CONGRATULATIONS!

to the

Winners!

1st place Champion's Award

RoboMindTech

RoboTron

2nd place  Champion's Award

Trinity School 

Raging Tigers

3rd place Champion's Award

Brics~2~Bots Academy

NYCityzens

1st place Robot Performance

RoboMindTech

RoboTron

2nd place Robot Performance

Forest Hills Robotics League

Gear Masters

3rd place Robot Performance

St. Clare's School

Transformers 1

1st place Robot Strategy & Innovation

Queens Robotics Club

Queens Robotics Club

2md place Robot Strategy & Innovation

Bedford Academy HS

Bedford Bots

3rd place Robot Strategy & Innovation

RoboMindTech

RoboBeta

1st place Robot Mechanical Design

IS 27SI Prall

Mustangs 2

2nd place Robot Mechanical Design

St. Clare's

Transformers 2

3rd place Robot Mechanical Design

PS 126M MAT

MATbot

1st place Robot Programming

Fort Greene Prep

Nanowolves

2nd place Robot Programming

Hunter College HS

HCHS Robotics Team B

3rd place Robot Programming

Dalton School

Dalton 2

1st place Project Research

Edward Bleeher JHS 185Q

Bleeker Stars

2nd place Project Research

PS 8K Robot Fulton

Swagger Bots

3rd place Project Research

IS 383B

Skybots

1st place Project Presentation

The Chapin School

Chapin Bots 2

2nd place Project Presentation

Packer Collegiate Institute

Bearded Bob

3rd place Project Presentation

Dalton School

Dalton 1

1st place Project Innovative Solution

Forest Hills Robotics League

Planetary Forces

2nd place Project Innovative Solution

The Chapin School

Chapin Bots 1

3rd  place Project Innovative Solution

RoboMindTech

RoboRocket

1st place Core Values Inspiration

The Gateway Middle School

Digital Pride

2nd place Core Values Inspiration

IS 119Q

Superbotz

3rd place Core Values Inspiration

Forest Hills Robotics League

Mindstorm Mechanics

1st place Core Values Teamwork

IS 119Q

Top Gearz

2nd place Core Values Teamwork

NYC Lab School

Gator II

3rd place Core Values Teamwork

Genesis at Xaverian

Genesis Legosmiths

1st place Core Values Gracious Professionalism

MS 45 Beacon Good Shepherd Services

Bronx Task Force

2nd place Core Values Gracious Professionalism

St. Clare's 

Transformers 4

3rd place Core Values Gracious Professionalism

St. Clare's

Transformers 3

Judge's Award

Young Women's Leadership School of Brooklyn

TYWL Robotics

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The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder's Guide...

LEGO builders who have bought The Unofficial Builder’s Guide (2^nd edition) I am sure will agree that it is a great addition to their LEGO® library. However, some of us might have bee a little disappointed to find that the Technic® chapter was eliminated.

Well, there is good news, The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder’s Guide by Pawel “Sariel” Kmiec (No Starch Press) not only fills the missing chapters from the old Builder’s Guide, but also expands on them giving the LEGO Technic builder an excellent guide to building with Technic elements.

This book is in beautiful color with copious illustrations showing the reader tips on how to build sturdy Technic creations. The book takes you from the basic Technic elements showing you how to use them to the mechanics of gearing, pneumatics, and motors (Technic, RCX, Power Functions) to advanced mechanics of wheeled steering, suspensions, and transmissions (if you are not familiar with building transmissions, the chapter on them will definitely help you). The book is loaded with awesome ideas.

I highly recommend The Unofficial LEGO Technic Builder’s Guide , because it is definitely a valuable source information for the Technic builder, the LEGO model builder who wants to incorporate Technic elements and the Mindstorms® robotics builder.

Book Reviews * 

FLL - Senior Soiutions: NYC FIRST Regionals Qualifiers...

They are going to Javits!

Saturday March 9, 2013

8:00am - 3:00pm

Brooklyn

Champions Award

1st place -  - PS 399 - Gear Hawks

2nd place - - IS 319K - Blood, Sweat, and Gears

3rd place - - PS 213K - 213 LEGO Dream team

Robot Awards

Robot Performance

1 st place - 7398 -PS 399K - Gear Hawks

2nd place - 7844 - PS 321K - NXT Lords

3rd place - - Bedford Academy HS - Bedfordbots

Mechanical Design

PS 8K - 2331 - Swagger Bots

Programming

1st place -7406 - MS 113K - Robot Falcons All Star

2nd place - 2048 - IS 383K - Skybots

Strategy and Innovation

1st place - 13273 - Sunset Park Prep - Lego My Eggo

2nd - 7405 - PS 11K - Mission11

Projec Awards

Research

1st place - 13859 - Fort Greene Prep - Nanowolves

2nd place - 7414 - PS 5K -Lego Rockets

Innovation

1st place - 12179 - Packer-Collegiate Institute - Beard Bob

2nd place -7424 - MS 57 - Ron Brown Acadeny

Presentation

12177- Packer-Collegiate Institute - Grandpa Bob's Whippersnappers

Core Value Awards

InspiraKtion

10773 - PS 92 - Technics

Teamwork

- Fort Greene Prep - Nanocubs

Gracious Professionalism

1st. place - 7408 - IS 318K - Nanobytes

2nd - 7412 - PS 3K - Robot Tigers

Against All Odds

12831 - The Young Women's Leadership School - TYWLS Robotics

Rising Star

- PS 8K - Mission Maker

Judge's Award

7413 - PS 256K - 256 Bots

Advancing

7419 - PS 270 Rovo-Warriors

Manhattan

Champions Award

1st place - 8434 - Chapin School - Chapin Bots 2

2nd. place - 7191 - Trinity School - Raging Tigers I

3rd - 4191 - Dalton - Hobbots

Robot Awards

Robot Performance

1st place - 14856 - Hunter College Campus - Hunter Probotics

2nd place - 7191 - Trinity - Raging Tigers II

3rd place - 4192 - Dalton - We Got the Beep

Mechanical Design

13305 - Graham Windham - Medabots

Programming

3916 - PS 126M - MATobots

Strategy and Innovation

13777 - Inwood Academy - Droid Makers

Project Awards

Research

14067 - Columbia Grammar and Prep - The Waggers

Innovation

6225 - PS 28M - The Innovators

Presentation

8432 - Chapin School - Chapin Bots 1

Core Values

Inspirations

15551 - Columbia Grammar and Prep - S-Tech

Teamwork

10656 - NYC Lab School - Lab Gators II

Gracious Professionalism

4805 - Columbia - Hunter Hawkers

Against All Odds

10468 - IS 289M - K89 Cougers

Rising Star

15247 - Gateway School - Digital Pride

Judges' Award

13263 - Dwight School - DWI Science

Advancing

4603 - Hunter College Campus - Hunter Games

Staten Island

Champion's Award

5908 - St. Clare's - Transformers 1

Robot Awards

Robot Performance

1st place - 3967 - IS 27 - Mustangs 1

2nd place - 5909 - St. Clare's - Transformers 2

Mechanical Design

5911 - St. Clare's - Transformers 4

Strategy and Innovation

5910 - St. Clare's - Transformers 3

Programming

3969 - IS 27 - Mustangs 2

Project

Research

12505 - Genesis at Xaverian - Purple Pandas

Innovation

3448 - NYC Parks - Marauder Bots

Presentation

2216 - PS 11 - Tech Tigers

Core Values

Inspiration

14535 - Genesis at Xaverian - Genesis Jedi

Teamwork

12735 - Genesis at Xaverian - Genesis Legosmiths

Gracious Professionalism

927 - IS 24 - Dark Knights

Bronx

Champion's Award

4442 - RoboMindTech - Robotron

Robot Awards

Robot Performance

1st place - 4442 - RoboMindTech - Robotron

2nd place - 1235 - B.R.A.T.S.

Mechanical Design

16165 - PS 153X - Robotronics

Strategy and Innovation

8135 - Horace Mann School - Basement Cubs

Programming

10452 - IS 98X - Ridder Kids

Project

Research

11810 - Family Life Academy - RoboSapiens

Innovation

4443 - RoboMindTech - RoboRockets

Core

Inspiration

7756 - MS 45X Beacon - Bronx Task Force

Teamwork

15139 - Riverside Country School - NXT Generation

Gracious Professionalism

7427 - Madiba Prep Middle School - Madibabots

Honorable Mention

14487 - PS 89X - Robotics 89

QUEENS

(Sorry, I was not given the awards categories)

509 - Brics~2~Bots - Dragonbots

5086 - Brics~2~Bots - NYCityzens

3713 - MS 215Q - Ryan Lions

13309 - JHS 185 - Bleeker Stars

123` - IS 119 - Top Gears

1233 - IS 119 - Superbotz

4094 - Forest Hills Robotics - Gear Masters

4095 - Forest Hills Robotics - Mindstorm Mechanics

4096 - Forest Hills Robotics - Planetary Forces

13460 - RoboMindTech - RoboBeta

4739 - Resurrection Ascension - RA Tech Titans

4604 - Queens Robotics Club - Queens Robotic Club

764 - MS 88Q - MasterMinds

763 - MS 88 - MasterMinds2

16179 - IS 192 - RoboFusion

2707 - MS 227Q - TNT Bulldogs

JrFLL Expo

Congrats to Dragonbotz & NYCityzens...

Congratulations

NYCityzens - Robot Technical Award: Programming

and

Dragonbotz - Robot Technical Award: Strategy and Innovation

Brics~2~Bots Academy

Congratulations to all the teams that won at the

 Queens Qualifier

Brooklyn Qualifier

Manhattan Qualifier

Bronx Qualifier

Staten Island Qualufier

(Complete list of winners will be posted after all the Qualifiers)

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This is FIRST...

FIRST

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology

is underway 

Check Out  a Tournament Near You!

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2013 NYC FIRST LEGO League Regionals are upon us!

Boro Qualifiers

Brooklyn - Jan. 12 - Polytechnic Institute - Susan Hermon - shermon@poly.edu

Manhattan - Jan. 19 - CCNY - Ivan Estevez - Iestevez89@gmail.com

Queens - Jan. 26 - MS 216Q - Peter Zanthus - Ptx79@aol.com

Bronx - Jan. 27 - Fordham University - Albert Davis - Albert.davis@parks.nyc.gov

Staten Island - Feb. 2 - Michael J. Petrides Complex - Francisco Portelos - mrportelos@gmail.com

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Dean Kamen - Guest Speaker...

Dean Kamen, founder of FIRST Robotics, will be speaking at the  92nd Street Y on Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 7:30pm about "Why We Need More Scientists".  Tickets are especially discounted for FIRST team members, teachers, parents, volunteers and sponsors. Click Here to order tickets.  Use promotional code - FIRST - for $10 tickets.   Sincerely, New York City FIRST

 

Robots Can Teach American Values...

If you missed this article back in March 2012, please check it out...

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/crease-robots-can-teach-american-values-1.3620236 

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FLL - Senior Solutions: Color Sensor & Field Mat...

In my post about the new field mat (Oct. 18), I might have spoken too soon. I am getting emails about how kids are having trouble sensing the green line on the mat with the RGB Color sensor. There seems to be no problem sensing the green bottle, but sometimes the green line on the mat is not picked up or a black line is sensed for the green. The White and the Black lines seem to work perfectly fine.

So I am working on several programs to see exactly where the problem is. If anyone has some information as to a solution. Please feel free to send a comment.

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The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide...

When the 1st edition (2005) of The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide by Allen Bedford was released it was the “must have” guide to LEGO building.  The LEGO fans, of all ages, found a reference book of the practices of LEGO building; they could now understand the principles behind the kit instructions and take that step into freestyle building. The book teaches LEGO fans how to choose and use the various building elements in different ways so that LEGO builders can maximize their creativity and build models that are sturdy. However, something was missing from this wonderful book...... COLOR!

Well LEGO builders, the new The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide, 2nd edition is now in COLOR! This updated version of the book is more condensed; it gets right to the point, which is great, because we LEGO builders would rather be building.

Curious though, three chapters were eliminated in this edition, Technic: Not As Technical As It May Seem; Sorting, Storage, and Sitting Down to Build Something; Making and Using Tools For LEGO Projects. The chapter on Storing... yes, it could be eliminated because LEGO builders find their own personal way of sorting, storing, and how they start to build. However, I think the chapter on Making and Using Tools... would have been valuable for the neophyte LEGO builder, and it had tips for some intermediate LEGO builders as well. The chapter on Technic... and the technic elements that were eliminated in the Brickopedia, I also feel should not have been eliminated, because LEGO builders today are making use of Technic elements with the traditional elements to create amazing models. Perhaps, it was a “cost” decision (color production is expensive), but I believe LEGO fans would have paid the extra cost to have these two chapters (Technic and Tools) included in this edition as well.

All in all, Allen Bedford’s The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide, 2nd edition (No Starch Press) is a GREAT book to have if you are a LEGO fan/builder.

Book Reviews *